Well Comments on Holland Lakeshore swap.
Well the VE Exam I did make Extra Today and I will be getting a new call, the VE exam had approx 10-14 people, and ranged from Techs and also noticed another person was going from General to Extra and at least 2 were going for their Element 1 Morse Code.
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Swap itself? I will say Holland ARC did a Fine Job and I'll give it a A+, Lotta Vendors, Swap Tables, plenty of people, also the High School has a Excellent Cafeteria, food is better than any other place I have been to as swaps concerned, not just Rolls and POP, Sandwiches, fries, coffee, etc. I talked to alot of people I know, said hello to 911 Ottawa Central Disptach, Emergency Management, They had Fire Trucks to view , Semminars, and much more I could go on about things but too numerous to list and all I can say Yes Holland made a very sucuessfull swap!

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If they plan on a Extravanzga like this next year I hope they do.

If you have not visit them for awhile now you heard it DE me !

Mark N8ZUX/AE

Ok gang Kalmazoo Michigan Hamfest Sunday October 12 th. at K-zoo Fairgrounds  web page is http://www.kalmazoohamradio.com    doors open at 8am. talk in 147.040 + and has PL check 146.520 simplex ask for PL I know they have 2 RX towers one is 94.8 and the other is ?? by the way they did not put on the Post Card as a Computer fest but you know someone always bring odds and ends, VE exam also

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Next November 1 2003 anyone remembering Holland Michigan ? OK they are sponsoring the the Great Lakeshore Super Swap on Saturday talk in is 147.060 + 94.8 PL  web site is http://www.hollandarc.org  also FYI they are Hosting the Michigan ARRL State Convention ,  also there will be a FM Station VAN 92.7 will be ther to broadcast live, VE Testing, events are  US Coast Guard-- mobile communications and a helicopter, Holland Fire Department- Sparky the talking Robotic Mascot,  HAZMAT  -- Reality Training, WOOD-TV Bill Stefen ( Meterologist , also he comes to the Sky-Warn Training meetings by the way ) and Weather Bug .

Speaker-Forums
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1) ARRL and FCC

2) ARES / RACES

3) USCG Rescue 21 and Direction Finding on the Great Lakes.

4) Clubs & Promoting Hobby

5) Wouff Hong Fri @ Holiday Inn 6pm.

6) IRLP

7) National Traffic System or NTS

Navy / Marine MARS


Convention dates are Oct 31 and Nov 1

I will say this this is a redesigned Ham Fest that Holland ARC decided to put alot of effort into Gang!  and if you need a Michigan Map go to  http://www.michigan.gov  

Zeeland Public HS is off Exit 55 on I-196 coming from Grand Rapids if you ask in advance for a Flier email riches@macatawa.org  Chuck is the ham on that one.

also a Six Meter Rig is being given away .

I hope that you will be there !

Have not been to that one but as to junk & Illeagle stuff I come accross stuff is not fit to sell, you will always get em, I'll clue in what I do..

First as soon as I spot a table like that I do not approach thats killer number one.

Two.. discuss some distance away with some of the other hms, what happens like that one year they looked really stupid, Guess what ? they did not return the next or even the following year.

third those stupid CB linears will be dirty spectarally, and rigs such as HTX-10 has 25 Watts output USB, and FM , 7 Watts AM ( LSB is also 25 W.  if you really want to know ) would blow the input stage unless you really wanted to spen some time cleaning up the amp, and allow a say 25 W PEP to pass thru without frying anything.

I would probably rather for space reasons buy a HF Rig with the 200 Watts or play with 25 watts just to see how well I can be copied as a QRP mobile.

Yes I heard of stements on a PBBS system about not shaving & Showering before such a event, but I don't know the building layout, I know a hamfest was well respected had problems getting authourization for A/C turns out they relocated the next year at a Fairground.  last Sat this other swap had no problem the Maint Supervisor had it on via a computer. A/C that is.

as to computers at the swap, well I decided this time after my last crashed I bought a New One with a 3 year warranty running WIN XP.

yes moma is bringing lace things, misc. stuff but I imagine some clubs decided that they can get the XYL to go along to buy this stuff, probably as a fund raiser for the club or their own pocket.

of course upper michigan had a Sledge hammer to a CB once for a Buck a hit probably same thought to raise money there too.

so there you go !

Well I will tell you how it operates in Michigan only one advantage I was working at a Heavy Duty Track Dealership and actually made acquaintances with what we call in MI Secatary of State's Office, I requested a Application for an Amateur Radio License Plate OK no problemo, filed that paperwork, with my proof of insurance and mailed to Lansing, MI. in meantime I was Issued a 15 day temporary plate plate came by mail, I attached it and removed the 15 day temporary. Done deal, by the way if anyone is Planning to run Phoney, or expired plates, be advised the Michigan Law enforcement do love their MDT's and they can ping 3 plates in 3 seconds, and those lights come on real quick after a message can come up INVALID and  ORDER TO CONSFISCATE .

I have Insurance that has a Internet PIN code for renewal, slick and fast if your insurance carrier is a participating member, and I'll have to say for those reading those silly fear books that some green critter is flying in a spaceship is out to get you I have news.. Had same plate 10 years already renewed my ticket now a General and I can say if some moron wants to harass me 911 in Michigan, IN. and Illinois has Harassment laws or road rage laws that will spin a troublemaker behind bars so fast, their head will still be spinning. let along I have relation in the Justice system including a County Prosecutor ! and I can get suit colors swapped to Hot Pink when they serve the slammer time.  heh heh !

Use to work in 2 Saftey Divisions made some GR8 freinds.

Grand Rapids, MI. IRA Hamfest even though the Website crashed ( stuff happens ! ) still I passed my Walkin exam as to getting there well I have my own route don't need Blab-In since I work in that county anyway, I operate Stealth Mode heh heh heh !

GRARA has a new QTH for theirs check out http://www.w8dc.org  SRI Eddie for spilling the beans !  missed last years but I will have to check SKED .

OK gang  Holland Michigan IS going to host a hamfest and they are really getting the Ship into shape and they are bringing out the Brass on this one they did alot of extensive advertising over 1 year in advance Hats off to those people. just plug in K8DAA in your search engine, they have a new site and all the info. there.  Blab-in is 147.060 Mhz. PL 94.8 and the ARRL is mentioned there big time.  If you did attend in the past well now they came up with a new game plan, no negative posts please!! NO PORN garbage is allowed if someone reading this you will be escorted off by the Men in Blue or Brown.

Mark N8ZUX

YES Marshall Michigan in March is a Great Hamfest I try to attend it being that is the place I bought my Tech book and a 2M. rig, and well I forget how much I bought there, also Eyeball QSO's and I will hope 2B there next year anyone from Marshall Mich. letme know next years swap !! by the way Stop at the Michigan Welcome center for a Michiagn Map or go online at http://www.michigan.gov for a free copy that includes your registering for campgrounds in ADVANCE I work for MDOT as a contractor employee worlds famous Q. on Holiday..

Look around at swaps, go to E-bay, Amazon, Put in search Amateur Radio Books see what comes up I bought a Morse Code Book & CD at Amazon, even silent key sales, yard sales, flea markets is iffy , try book stores that sells used books, Salvation Army Stores, what have you, I looked up Kits and spent some time at QRP & Kits vaccum tube stuff is also out there.

Good Luck

Gee whiz whats the big deal ? heavy stuff settles to the bottom IF and Only IF there is room to do such a feat simple Gravity more space in the can ( in other words make a few pots of coffee I'll take decaf please ) which you should now have enough space to mix the stuff it also should be at room temperature not directly out of the refriderator, warm air space will somewhat perform more easilier than cold space and cold coffee So far so good, by the way a few pots of coffee should be a few days consumption and always a good breakfast Farmer's type Ya know eggs bacon, sausage, flap jacks, the like us old farm boys like a good one especially Buiscuits and gravy goes good with that there coffee, Oh yeah Maxwell House, Sanka, Folgers are all good coffee as Andy Griffith used to say " MMMM Good !"  let me know when breakfast is served.. !!

Can you afford $9.00 ? I just searched Google and found Norton Anti-Virus at this site..

http://www.softwareoutlet.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=SYMS-SF

Place is software outlet If I were you buy it there I am Using Mc Affee but I also use a firewall You can download Zone Alarm free version but I would check this Softwrae outlet looks pertty affordable !

and If you was doing Macintosh you people get to pay thru the nose $19.95 heh heh heh !

anyway good luck !

Yep check the law, normally one ear open for sirens and what have ya sounds like running that HT in the car , I would rather get a regular mobile myself HTs are my opinion if I was passenger but shucks I would pull my mobile and do a mag ant, thru the lighter and run 5 watts sometimes a rental car some clown blows the fuse no fun jeb . but agin HTs are ok if you are walking and watch those cars , bad news story gettin into trouble with a car ya know. many ham dealers have em.

lower wattage soldering pencil buy a weller or an ungar around 20-25 watts... that WELDER will mess everything up, remember you are using plastic & metal mixed , my 25+ years soldering you would not use that high power on a PC board would ya ? nope and 100 to 450 watss will certainly melt into a gooey mess let alone drip and burn your fingers.

I would disagree using a blow torch method, very quick way to destroy a PL-259 connector, a soldering pencil around 15-25 watts is sufficent. using a good 40/60 solder is all you need after several years that way I manage to have GR8 Sucuess.